Call for ‘complete review’ into cash-strapped Fife health body

The Mid-Scotland and Fife Labour MSP has called on Jean Freeman, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Minister for Health, to carry out “a complete review” of the region’s health and social care body.

He also wants an urgent meeting with her to discuss the financial problems facing the region’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) – and the impact it is having on vital services.

The board – made up of representatives from Fife Council and NHS Fife – was the subject of a critical report by the Accounts Commission this week.

It said it was “seriously concerned” about the slow progress being made to tackle its financial problems.

The IJB has an £8m black hole and has overspent for the past two years.

And the tab for that has to be picked up by the local authority and NHS Fife.

Now, Mr Rowley has written to Ms Freeman calling for an urgent review and a meeting to discuss the issues which, he said, included a lack of leadership.

He said Fife hadn’t had the same level of support as other regions, stating: “The ongoing financial pressures are likely to undermine how the IJB will be able to improve vital health and social care services for the people of Fife.

“I would suggest that despite these issues being raised repeatedly with you and your predecessor, the government has done nothing to address them. The government has been quick to direct extra funding into other parts of the country and our next-door neighbours in Tayside NHS but you have been and are failing the people of Fife.

Mr Rowley wants the Minister to order a review into every service covered by the partnership.

That would include bed blocking – where people well enough to return home are left stuck in hospital until a care package is put in place.

You may also be interested in:

Fife health care body overspends by £10m

Fife Budget: What councillors agreed

Update on police officer injured on A92

He also said board members had expressed concerns over a lack of information available to them, and criticised NHS Fife for its approach to the IJB.

“I believe that there was always an intention that we would see a significant shift in finances from acute to primary care and I am afraid this has not happened meaning the pace of change has been slow,” he said.

“In Fife my perception of things is that NHS Fife have not engaged the new set up with enthusiasm but more with a sense of a requirement they must do.”

Mr Rowley said the IJB had been hampered by “a real lack of, and failure in leadership” adding: “With this and the shortfalls in finance from day one is it any wonder we have failure after failure.

“This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”

At Friday’s meeting of the IJB, members were told of significant work that had been done to balance the books.

Audrey Valente, chief finance officer, also paid tribute to the leadership team for the work it has done.

The board’s budget is expected to be set on March 27.